Species recommendations

Recommended emergency killing methods for each species are listed below. The choice of method will depend on the individual circumstances.

Cattle

Cattle may be killed using captive-bolt stunning immediately followed by bleeding or pithing; shotguns; humane killers; rifles; or lethal injection.

Deer

Deer may be killed using captive-bolt stunning immediately followed by bleeding or pithing; shotguns; humane killers; rifles; or lethal injection.

Goats

Goats may be killed using captive-bolt stunning immediately followed by bleeding or pithing; shotguns; humane killers; rifles; or lethal injection.

Horses

Horses may be killed using captive-bolt stunning immediately followed by bleeding or pithing; shotguns; humane killers; rifles; or lethal injection.

Infant lambs, kids and piglets

Lambs, kids and piglets may be killed using captive-bolt stunning immediately followed by bleeding or pithing; or lethal injection. If no other method is available, external trauma may be used, immediately followed by bleeding.

Pigs

Pigs may be killed using captive-bolt stunning immediately followed by bleeding or pithing; shotguns; humane killers; rifles; or lethal injection.

Poultry

Poultry may be killed using captive-bolt stunning or electrical stunning immediately followed by bleeding or neck dislocation; or lethal injection. If no other method is available, neck dislocation may be used without prior stunning.

Sheep

Sheep may be killed using captive-bolt stunning immediately followed by bleeding or pithing; shotguns; humane killers; rifles; or lethal injection.

Rabbits

Rabbits may be killed using captive-bolt stunning immediately followed by bleeding; or lethal injection. If no other method is available, external trauma or neck dislocation may be used without prior stunning.